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<ep-patent-document id="EP20182247B1" file="EP20182247NWB1.xml" lang="en" country="EP" doc-number="3736482" kind="B1" date-publ="20220608" status="n" dtd-version="ep-patent-document-v1-5-1">
<SDOBI lang="en"><B000><eptags><B001EP>ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSK..HRIS..MTNORS..SM..................</B001EP><B005EP>J</B005EP><B007EP>BDM Ver 2.0.15 (20th of December) -  2100000/0</B007EP></eptags></B000><B100><B110>3736482</B110><B120><B121>EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION</B121></B120><B130>B1</B130><B140><date>20220608</date></B140><B190>EP</B190></B100><B200><B210>20182247.5</B210><B220><date>20151225</date></B220><B240><B241><date>20200625</date></B241><B242><date>20210401</date></B242></B240><B250>en</B250><B251EP>en</B251EP><B260>en</B260></B200><B400><B405><date>20220608</date><bnum>202223</bnum></B405><B430><date>20201111</date><bnum>202046</bnum></B430><B450><date>20220608</date><bnum>202223</bnum></B450><B452EP><date>20220223</date></B452EP></B400><B500><B510EP><classification-ipcr sequence="1"><text>F16L  43/00        20060101AFI20200915BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr><classification-ipcr sequence="2"><text>F16L  55/045       20060101ALI20200915BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr></B510EP><B520EP><classifications-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="1"><text>F16L  43/00        20130101 FI20170720BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="2"><text>F16L  55/045       20130101 LI20200907BHEP        </text></classification-cpc></classifications-cpc></B520EP><B540><B541>de</B541><B542>ROHRBOGEN UND FLUIDMASCHINE DAMIT</B542><B541>en</B541><B542>BEND PIPE AND FLUID MACHINE COMPRISING SAME</B542><B541>fr</B541><B542>TUYAU INCURVÉ ET MACHINE À FLUIDE LE COMPRENANT</B542></B540><B560><B561><text>EP-A1- 0 195 528</text></B561><B561><text>WO-A1-00/17562</text></B561><B561><text>WO-A1-98/15769</text></B561><B561><text>WO-A1-2009/127192</text></B561><B561><text>US-A- 2 837 810</text></B561></B560></B500><B600><B620><parent><pdoc><dnum><anum>15911387.7</anum><pnum>3369982</pnum></dnum><date>20151225</date></pdoc></parent></B620></B600><B700><B720><B721><snm>Iwakiri, Kenichiro</snm><adr><str>c/o MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
16-5 Konan 2-chome
Minato-ku</str><city>Tokyo 108-8215</city><ctry>JP</ctry></adr></B721></B720><B730><B731><snm>MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE 
&amp; TURBOCHARGER, LTD.</snm><iid>101935754</iid><irf>224 677 a/dst</irf><adr><str>3000, Tana 
Chuo-ku</str><city>Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-5293</city><ctry>JP</ctry></adr></B731></B730><B740><B741><snm>Hoffmann Eitle</snm><iid>100061036</iid><adr><str>Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartmbB 
Arabellastraße 30</str><city>81925 München</city><ctry>DE</ctry></adr></B741></B740></B700><B800><B840><ctry>AL</ctry><ctry>AT</ctry><ctry>BE</ctry><ctry>BG</ctry><ctry>CH</ctry><ctry>CY</ctry><ctry>CZ</ctry><ctry>DE</ctry><ctry>DK</ctry><ctry>EE</ctry><ctry>ES</ctry><ctry>FI</ctry><ctry>FR</ctry><ctry>GB</ctry><ctry>GR</ctry><ctry>HR</ctry><ctry>HU</ctry><ctry>IE</ctry><ctry>IS</ctry><ctry>IT</ctry><ctry>LI</ctry><ctry>LT</ctry><ctry>LU</ctry><ctry>LV</ctry><ctry>MC</ctry><ctry>MK</ctry><ctry>MT</ctry><ctry>NL</ctry><ctry>NO</ctry><ctry>PL</ctry><ctry>PT</ctry><ctry>RO</ctry><ctry>RS</ctry><ctry>SE</ctry><ctry>SI</ctry><ctry>SK</ctry><ctry>SM</ctry><ctry>TR</ctry></B840></B800></SDOBI>
<description id="desc" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="1"> -->
<heading id="h0001">TECHNICAL FIELD</heading>
<p id="p0001" num="0001">The present disclosure relates to a bend pipe and a fluid machine comprising the same.</p>
<heading id="h0002">BACKGROUND ART</heading>
<p id="p0002" num="0002">For instance, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe of a fluid machine such as a turbine and a compressor may include a bend pipe for changing the flow direction of a fluid, for the sake of layout of the apparatus.</p>
<p id="p0003" num="0003">As shown in <figref idref="f0019">FIG. 26</figref>, as a fluid flows through a bend pipe, the fluid may drift outward in the bend direction (outward with respect to the curvature radius) due to a centrifugal force, and separation may occur on the inner side in the bend direction (inner side with respect to the curvature radius). When such separation occurs, pressure loss occurs and the efficiency of the system decreases, with inflow of a flow deflected toward a device provided on the downstream side. Accordingly, the separation may cause deterioration of the efficiency of the device.</p>
<p id="p0004" num="0004">Patent Document 1 focuses on occurrence of outward drift in the bend direction at the outlet of the bend portion (bend pipe portion) of the bend pipe, and discloses, as shown in <figref idref="f0020">FIG. 27A</figref>, eccentrically forming the joint line between the inlet pipe portion (upper portion draft) and the bend portion of the bend pipe outward in the bend direction. Accordingly, the velocity of the outward flow in the bend direction of the bend pipe is reduced, so as to achieve a uniform velocity distribution.</p>
<heading id="h0003">Citation List</heading>
<heading id="h0004">Patent Literature</heading>
<p id="p0005" num="0005">Patent Document 1: <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JP2006307740A"><text>JP2006-307740A</text></patcit><!-- EPO <DP n="2"> --></p>
<p id="p0006" num="0006"><patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2837810A"><text>US 2,837,810 A</text></patcit> discloses features falling under the preamble of claim 1. <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO9815769A1"><text>WO 98/15769 A1</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="WO0017562A1"><text>WO 00/17562 A1</text></patcit> are further prior art.</p>
<p id="p0007" num="0007"><patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="WO2009127192A1"><text>WO 2009/127192 A1</text></patcit> discloses a flow-optimized pipe elbow.</p>
<heading id="h0005">SUMMARY</heading>
<heading id="h0006">Problems to be Solved</heading>
<p id="p0008" num="0008">While the bend pipe disclosed in Patent Document 1 has an effect to reduce the velocity of a flow on the outer side in the bend direction of the bend pipe, a thick boundary layer develops from the vicinity of the inlet of the bend portion at the inner side of the bend direction as shown in <figref idref="f0020">FIG. 27B</figref>, which is likely to cause separation (reverse flow) midway in the bend portion. That is, in the bend pipe disclosed in Patent Document 1, the effect to suppress occurrence of separation on the inner region in the bend direction is limited.</p>
<p id="p0009" num="0009">In view of the above, an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a bend pipe and a fluid machine including the same, whereby it is possible to suppress occurrence of separation in a region on the inner side in the bend direction.</p>
<heading id="h0007">Solution to the Problems</heading>
<p id="p0010" num="0010">The invention is defined by claim 1.</p>
<p id="p0011" num="0011">(1) A bend pipe for supplying a fluid to a fluid machine or discharging the fluid from the fluid machine, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, includes: an inlet pipe portion having a linear shape; a bend pipe portion connected to a downstream end of the inlet pipe portion and configured to change a flow direction of the fluid; and an outlet pipe portion having a linear shape connected to a downstream end of the bend pipe portion. Provided that: a line including a pipe axial center line of the inlet pipe portion and an extension line thereof is defined as a line L; a line including a pipe axial line of the outlet pipe portion and an extension line thereof is defined as a line M; and a direction parallel to an intersection line formed by a plane orthogonal to the line L and a plane orthogonal to the line M is defined as a direction I, and when, as seen from the direction I, a<!-- EPO <DP n="3"> --> side of the line M on which the inlet pipe portion exists is defined as a front side and a side of the line M on which the inlet pipe portion does not exist is defined as a back side, a side surface on an outer side with respect to a bend direction of the bend pipe portion includes an outer inclined surface on the back side of the line M, the outer inclined surface being inclined so that a distance from the line M decreases toward a downstream side.</p>
<p id="p0012" num="0012">With the above bend pipe (1), the direction of a flow after passing the bend pipe portion is inclined from the line M so as to move inward in the bend direction of the bend pipe toward the downstream side. As a result, with the flow moving in the direction inclined as described above, it is possible to suppress development of a separation flow that occurs in the region on the inner side of the bend direction of the bend pipe by quickly making a separation flow adhere again to the inner side, or to suppress occurrence itself of the separation flow.</p>
<p id="p0013" num="0013">(2) In some embodiments, in the above bend pipe (1), as seen from the direction I, a maximum value α1 of an inclination angle formed by the outer inclined surface with a line parallel to the line M is not smaller than 10°.</p>
<p id="p0014" num="0014">With the bend pipe described in the above (2), it is possible to increase the inclination of the direction of the flow after passing the bend pipe portion from the line M to some extent, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of a separation flow in the inner region with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe with a high effectiveness.</p>
<p id="p0015" num="0015">(3) In the invention, a pipe axial center line of the bend pipe portion has a back-side eccentric portion offset from the line M toward the back side.</p>
<p id="p0016" num="0016">With the bend pipe described in the above (3), it is possible to easily increase the inclination of the direction of the flow after passing the bend pipe portion from the line M, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of a separation flow in the inner region with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe.</p>
<p id="p0017" num="0017">(4) In some embodiments, in the above bend pipe (3), a diameter De of the outlet pipe portion and a distance δ1 between the line M and a portion of the back-side eccentric<!-- EPO <DP n="4"> --> portion farthest from the line M toward the back side satisfy δ1≥0.1De.</p>
<p id="p0018" num="0018">With the bend pipe described in the above (4), it is possible to increase the inclination of the direction of the flow after passing the bend pipe portion from the line M to some extent, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of a separation flow in the inner region with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe with a high effectiveness.</p>
<p id="p0019" num="0019">(5) In some embodiments, in the bend pipe described in any one of the above (1) to (4), a flow-passage cross sectional area at least in a partial section of the bend pipe portion is greater than a flow-passage cross sectional area A1 of the inlet pipe portion, and is greater than a flow-passage cross sectional area A3 of the outlet pipe portion.</p>
<p id="p0020" num="0020">The pressure loss of a fluid in a pipe passage increases in proportion to square of velocity of the fluid. Thus, for the bend pipe portion where a particularly large pressure loss is like to occur, it is desirable to increase the flow-passage cross-sectional area and reduce the flow velocity, to reduce pressure loss.</p>
<p id="p0021" num="0021">In this regard, as in the above (5), with the flow-passage cross-sectional area in at least one section of the bend pipe portion being greater than each of the flow-passage cross-sectional area A1 of the inlet pipe portion and the flow-passage cross-sectional area A3 of the outlet pipe portion, the flow velocity decreases and a centrifugal force applied to the fluid is reduced, at least in the above section of the bend pipe portion. Thus, it is possible to suppress separation on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe.</p>
<p id="p0022" num="0022">Furthermore, as a result of a decrease in the centrifugal force at least in a section of the bend pipe portion, deflection of a flow toward the outer side in the bend direction is reduced for the outlet pipe portion, and occurrence of a secondary flow due to the centrifugal force is also suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress rotation of a flow at the outlet pipe portion and the downstream side thereof, and to make the flow uniform. Thus, it is possible to suppress deterioration of efficiency of a device disposed downstream of the bend pipe.</p>
<p id="p0023" num="0023">Furthermore, also in a case where a flow originally having a rotation component<!-- EPO <DP n="5"> --> enters from the inlet pipe portion, the flow-passage cross-sectional area is increased at the bend pipe portion, and thereby the rotation component is reduced, which makes it possible to make the flow uniform and reduce pressure loss.</p>
<p id="p0024" num="0024">(6) In some embodiments, in the bend pipe described in any one of the above (1) to (5), the bend pipe portion includes, at least in a partial section, a cross section on which a gravity center is positioned on an inner side, with respect to the bend direction, of a center of a flow passage width in a direction orthogonal to the direction I.</p>
<p id="p0025" num="0025">Generally, in the bend pipe portion, the flow is likely to deflect outward with respect to the bend direction, which may cause pressure loss. In view of this, as in the above (6), with the bend pipe portion including a cross section in which the gravity center is positioned on the inner side, in the bend direction, of the center of the flow-passage width in the direction orthogonal to the direction I, the fluid is less likely to flow into a region on the outer side, with respect to the bend direction, of the center of the bend pipe portion, while the fluid is more likely to flow into a region on the inner side, with respect to the bend direction, of the center. As a result, separation is reduced, and it is possible to reduce pressure loss in the bend pipe portion. Furthermore, the flow amount decreases in the region on the outer side, in the bend direction, where a centrifugal force has a strong influence, and development of the secondary flow is suppressed by inclination of the wall surface.</p>
<p id="p0026" num="0026">(7) In the invention, the bend pipe portion has, at least in a partial section, a flattened shape in which a flow passage width in a direction J orthogonal to the direction I is smaller than a flow passage width in the direction I.</p>
<p id="p0027" num="0027">With the above bend pipe (7), the flow-passage width in the direction J, of the flow passage width of the bend pipe portion, is smaller than the flow-passage width in the direction I, and thereby it is possible to reduce the influence of a centrifugal force. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a drift to a region on the outer side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe, and to suppress occurrence of a secondary flow.</p>
<p id="p0028" num="0028">(8) In some embodiments, in the above bend pipe (7), the flattened shape is an oval shape, a rectangular shape, or a rectangular shape with four rounded corners.<!-- EPO <DP n="6"> --></p>
<p id="p0029" num="0029">With the above bend pipe (8), it is possible to achieve the effect described in the above (7) with the bend pipe having a simple shape.</p>
<p id="p0030" num="0030">Meanwhile, as in the above bend pipe (1), in a case where the side surface on the outer side in the bend direction of the bend pipe portion has an outer inclined surface, the flow after passing through the bend pipe portion is guided to the inner side in the bend direction, and thereby it is possible to suppress separation in the inner region. On the other hand, according to findings of the present inventors, as a part of the flow toward the inner side hits the side surface on the inner side, the part of the flow may flow backward, provoking local separation on the upstream side.</p>
<p id="p0031" num="0031">(9) Thus, in some embodiments, in the bend pipe described in any one of the above (1) to (8), a side surface on an inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe portion includes an inner inclined surface on a downstream side of the outer inclined surface, the inner inclined surface being inclined so that a distance from the line M decreases toward a downstream side.</p>
<p id="p0032" num="0032">With the above configuration, the bend pipe is curved so that a part of the flow from the bend pipe portion to the outlet pipe portion flows along the inner inclined surface, and it is possible to suppress a partial reverse flow and local separation as described above.</p>
<p id="p0033" num="0033">(10) In some embodiments, in the bend pipe described in any one of the above (1) to (9), as seen from the direction I, a maximum value α1 of an inclination angle formed by the outer inclined surface with a line parallel to the line M and a maximum value α2 of an inclination angle formed by the inner inclined surface with a line parallel to the line M satisfy α1≥α2.</p>
<p id="p0034" num="0034">With the bend pipe according to the above (10), it is possible to suppress separation effectively over a broad range on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe.</p>
<p id="p0035" num="0035">(11) In some embodiments, in the above bend pipe (9) or (10), a pipe axial center line of the bend pipe portion has a back-side eccentric portion offset from the line M toward the back side and a front-side eccentric portion offset from the line M toward the front side on<!-- EPO <DP n="7"> --> a downstream side of the back-side eccentric portion.</p>
<p id="p0036" num="0036">With the above bend pipe (10), in addition to the effect described in the above (3), the bend pipe is curved so that a part of the flow from the bend pipe portion to the outlet pipe portion flows along the inner inclined surface, and it is possible to suppress a partial reverse flow and local separation as described above.</p>
<p id="p0037" num="0037">(12) In some embodiments, in the above bend pipe (11), a distance δ1 between the line M and a portion of the back-side eccentric portion farthest from the line M toward the back side and a distance δ2 between the line M and a portion of the front-side eccentric portion farthest from the line M toward the front side satisfy δ1≥δ2.</p>
<p id="p0038" num="0038">With the bend pipe according to the above (12), it is possible to suppress separation effectively over a broad range on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe.</p>
<p id="p0039" num="0039">(13) In some embodiments, in the bend pipe described in any one of the above (1) to (11), at least in a partial section of the bend pipe portion, a vertex position at which a flow passage width of each cross section of the bend pipe portion is at a maximum is shifted about a pipe axial center line of the bend pipe portion toward a downstream side.</p>
<p id="p0040" num="0040">With the above bend pipe (13), even in a case where a flow that flows from the inlet pipe portion originally has a rotation component, it is possible to suppress occurrence of separation effectively in a region on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe.</p>
<p id="p0041" num="0041">(14) A fluid machine according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: an impeller wheel; a casing covering the impeller wheel; an inlet pipe connected to an upstream side of the casing, for guiding a fluid to the impeller wheel; and an outlet pipe connected to a downstream side of the casing, for discharging a fluid after passing through the impeller wheel. The inlet pipe or the outlet pipe is the bend pipe according to any one of the above (1) to (13).</p>
<p id="p0042" num="0042">With the above fluid machine (14), the bend pipe described in any one of the above (1) to (13) is provided, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of<!-- EPO <DP n="8"> --> separation in a region on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the fluid machine.</p>
<p id="p0043" num="0043">(15) In some embodiments, the above fluid machine (14) is a turbine, an axial flow compressor, or a centrifugal compressor.</p>
<p id="p0044" num="0044">With the above fluid machine (15), the bend pipe described in any one of the above (1) to (13) is provided, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of separation in a region on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the turbine efficiency and the compressor efficiency.</p>
<heading id="h0008">Advantageous Effects</heading>
<p id="p0045" num="0045">According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a bend pipe and a fluid machine including the same, whereby it is possible to suppress occurrence of separation in a region on the inner side in the bend direction.</p>
<heading id="h0009">BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS</heading>
<p id="p0046" num="0046">
<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact">
<li><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic perspective view of a bend pipe 100 according to an example not falling under claim 1.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic diagram showing an example of the shape of a bend pipe 100 (100A) according to the invention, as seen from a direction I.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic diagram showing an example of the shape of a bend pipe 100 as seen from the direction I.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic diagram showing an example of the shape of a bend pipe 100 as seen from the direction I.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref> is a diagram for describing an effect to suppress development or occurrence of a separation flow.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref> is a diagram showing a relationship between a pipe axial directional position 'm' and a flow-passage cross-sectional area A of a bend pipe 100 shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0007">FIG. 7</figref> is a schematic diagram for describing the secondary flow due to a centrifugal<!-- EPO <DP n="9"> --> force.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0008">FIG. 8</figref> is a diagram describing occurrence of a partial reverse flow, in a configuration without an inner inclined surface 16.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0008">FIG. 9</figref> is a diagram describing suppression of occurrence of a partial reverse flow, in a configuration with an inner inclined surface 16.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0009">FIG. 10</figref> is a diagram showing a relationship between a pipe axial directional position 'm' and a flow-passage cross-sectional area A of a bend pipe 100 shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0010">FIG. 11</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of a bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref> not falling under claim 1.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0010">FIG. 12</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref> not falling under claim 1.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0010">FIG. 13</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0011">FIG. 14</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0011">FIG. 15</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0012">FIG. 16</figref> is a diagram showing the shape of a bend pipe 100 according the invention</li>
<li><figref idref="f0013">FIG. 17</figref> is a diagram showing an example of cross sections S1 to S5 of a bend pipe portion 4 at a plurality of positions (pipe axial directional positions) in the flow direction shown in <figref idref="f0012">FIG. 16</figref>, the example not falling under claim 1.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0014">FIG. 18</figref> is a diagram showing an example of cross sections S1 to S5 of a bend pipe portion 4 at a plurality of positions (pipe axial directional positions) in the flow direction shown in <figref idref="f0012">FIG. 16</figref>, the example not falling under claim 1.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0015">FIG. 19A</figref> is a front view showing a region of occurrence of a separation flow K in a bend pipe 100, not falling under claim 1, as seen from the upstream side of the bend pipe 100.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0015">FIG. 19B</figref> is a top view showing a region of occurrence of a separation flow K in a bend<!-- EPO <DP n="10"> --> pipe 100, not falling under claim 1, as seen from the direction I.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0015">FIG. 19C</figref> is a side view showing a region of occurrence of a separation flow K in a bend pipe 100, not falling under claim 1, as seen from the downstream side of the bend pipe 100.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0016">FIG. 20</figref> is a schematic configuration diagram of a turbine 20 according to the invention.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0016">FIG. 21</figref> is a schematic configuration diagram of a turbine 20 according to the invention.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0017">FIG. 22</figref> is a schematic configuration diagram of an axial flow compressor 30 according to the invention.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0017">FIG. 23</figref> is a schematic configuration diagram of an axial flow compressor 30 according to the invention.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0018">FIG. 24</figref> is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifugal compressor 40 according to the invention.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0018">FIG. 25</figref> is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifugal compressor 40 according to the invention.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0019">FIG. 26</figref> is a diagram for describing the problem of a typical art.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0020">FIG. 27A</figref> is a diagram for describing the eccentric direction of a joint line between an upper portion draft and a bend portion in a typical art.</li>
<li><figref idref="f0020">FIG. 27B</figref> is a diagram for describing the problem of a typical art.</li>
</ul></p>
<heading id="h0010">DETAILED DESCRIPTION</heading>
<p id="p0047" num="0047">Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is intended, however, that unless particularly identified, dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions and the like of components described in the embodiments shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.</p>
<p id="p0048" num="0048">For instance, an expression of relative or absolute arrangement such as "in a direction", "along a direction", "parallel", "orthogonal", "centered", "concentric" and "coaxial" shall not<!-- EPO <DP n="11"> --> be construed as indicating only the arrangement in a strict literal sense, but also includes a state where the arrangement is relatively displaced by a tolerance, or by an angle or a distance whereby it is possible to achieve the same function.</p>
<p id="p0049" num="0049">On the other hand, an expression such as "comprise", "include", "have", "contain" and "constitute" are not intended to be exclusive of other components.</p>
<p id="p0050" num="0050"><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic perspective view of a bend pipe 100 according to an example not falling under claim 1. The bend pipe 100 is a bend pipe for supplying a fluid to a fluid machine described below or discharging the fluid from the fluid machine. The fluid flowing through the bend pipe 100 is an energy medium used in energy conversion in a fluid machine, which is, for instance a high-pressure gas or a high-pressure fluid.</p>
<p id="p0051" num="0051">As shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, the bend pipe 100 includes an inlet pipe portion 2 having a linear shape, a bend pipe portion 4 connected to a downstream end 2a of the inlet pipe portion 2 and configured to change the flow direction of the fluid, and an outlet pipe portion 6 having a linear shape connected to a downstream end 4a of the bend pipe portion 4.</p>
<p id="p0052" num="0052">Herein, as shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, line L refers to the line including the pipe axial center line of the inlet pipe portion 2 and the extension line thereof, line M refers to the line including the pipe axial center line of the outlet pipe portion 6 and the extension line thereof, and direction I refers to the direction parallel to an intersection line N formed by a plane orthogonal to the line L and a plane orthogonal to the line M. If the line L and the line M are on the same plane, the direction I is the direction orthogonal to the plane including both of the line L and the line M.</p>
<p id="p0053" num="0053"><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a bend pipe 100 (100A) according to an embodiment, as seen from the direction I. <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a bend pipe 100 (100B) according to an embodiment, as seen from the direction I. <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a bend pipe 100 (100C) according to an embodiment, as seen from the direction I.</p>
<p id="p0054" num="0054">In some embodiments, in a view of the bend pipe 100 seen from the direction I as shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>, provided that the front side refers to a side of the line M including the<!-- EPO <DP n="12"> --> inlet pipe portion 2 and the back side refers to the other side of the line M not including the inlet pipe portion 2, the side surface 4A of the outer side in the bend direction (the outer side with respect to the curvature radius) of the bend pipe portion 4 includes an outer inclined surface 8 inclined so that the distance d1 from the line M decreases toward the downstream side, on the back side of the line M.</p>
<p id="p0055" num="0055">With this configuration, as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>, the direction E of a flow after passing the bend pipe portion 4 is inclined from the line M so as to move inward in the bend direction of the bend pipe 100 toward the downstream side. As a result, with the flow moving in the direction E, it is possible to suppress development of a separation flow that occurs in the region on the inner side of the bend direction of the bend pipe 100 by quickly making a separation flow K re-adhere to the inner side, or to suppress occurrence itself of the separation flow K. While an effect to suppress a separation flow is described in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref> referring to the bend pipe shape shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> as an example, the same effect can be achieved by the bend pipe shape shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIGs. 3</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">4</figref> having the outer inclined surface 8.</p>
<p id="p0056" num="0056">In some embodiments, as shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>, as seen from the direction I, the maximum value α1 of the inclination angle formed between the outer inclined surface 8 and the line parallel to the line M is not smaller than 10°. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the inclination of the direction E of the flow after passing the bend pipe portion 4 from the above described line M to some extent, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of a separation flow in the inner region with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100 with a high effectiveness.</p>
<p id="p0057" num="0057">In some embodiments, as shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>, the pipe axial center line H of the bend pipe portion 4 includes a back-side eccentric portion Hr offset from the line M toward the back side. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the inclination of the direction E of the flow after passing the bend pipe portion 4 from the above described line M more easily, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of a separation flow in the inner region with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0058" num="0058">In some embodiments, as shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>, the distance δ1 between the line<!-- EPO <DP n="13"> --> M and a position P on the back-side eccentric portion Hr farthest from the line M toward the back side and the diameter De of the outlet pipe portion 6 satisfy δ1≥0.1De. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the inclination of the direction E of the flow after passing the bend pipe portion 4 from the above described line M to some extent, and thus it is possible to suppress development or occurrence of a separation flow in the inner region with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100 with a high effectiveness.</p>
<p id="p0059" num="0059">In an embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIGs. 2</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">4</figref> for instance, the side surface 4B on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe portion 4 may include an inclined surface 12 whose distance d2 from the line M decreases toward the downstream side, and an inclined surface 10 disposed on the downstream side of the inclined surface 12, whose distance d2 from the line M increases toward the downstream side.</p>
<p id="p0060" num="0060">In an embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> for instance, the side surface 4B on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe portion 4 may include an inclined surface 12 whose distance d2 from the line M decreases toward the downstream side, and a non-inclined surface 14 disposed on the downstream side of the inclined surface 12, whose distance d2 from the line M is constant regardless of the position in the flow direction.</p>
<p id="p0061" num="0061"><figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref> is a diagram showing a relationship between a pipe axial directional position 'm' and a flow-passage cross-sectional area A of the bend pipe 100 shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>.</p>
<p id="p0062" num="0062">In an embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref>, the flow-passage cross-sectional area in at least one section of the bend pipe portion 4 may be greater than each of the flow-passage cross-sectional area A1 of the inlet pipe portion 2 and the flow-passage cross-sectional area A3 of the outlet pipe portion 6.</p>
<p id="p0063" num="0063">The pressure loss of a fluid in a pipe passage increases in proportion to square of velocity of the fluid. Thus, for the bend pipe portion 4 where a particularly large pressure loss is likely to occur, it is desirable to increase the flow-passage cross-sectional area and reduce the flow velocity, to reduce pressure loss.</p>
<p id="p0064" num="0064">In this regard, as in the above, with the flow-passage cross-sectional area in at least one section of the bend pipe portion 4 being greater than each of the flow-passage cross-sectional<!-- EPO <DP n="14"> --> area A1 of the inlet pipe portion 2 and the flow-passage cross-sectional area A3 of the outlet pipe portion 6, the flow velocity decreases and a centrifugal force applied to the fluid is reduced, at least in the above section of the bend pipe portion 4. Thus, it is possible to suppress separation on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0065" num="0065">Furthermore, as a result of a decrease in the centrifugal force at least in a section of the bend pipe portion 4, deflection of a flow toward the outer side in the bend direction is reduced for the outlet pipe portion 6, and occurrence of a secondary flow (see <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 7</figref>) due to the centrifugal force is also suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress rotation of a flow at the outlet pipe portion 6 and the downstream side thereof, and to make the flow uniform. Thus, it is possible to suppress deterioration of efficiency of a device disposed downstream of the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0066" num="0066">Furthermore, in a case where a flow originally having a rotation component enters from the inlet pipe portion 2, the flow-passage cross-sectional area is increased at the bend pipe portion 4, and thereby the rotation component is reduced, which makes it possible to make the flow uniform and reduce pressure loss.</p>
<p id="p0067" num="0067">Meanwhile, as described above, in a case where the side surface 4A on the outer side in the bend direction of the bend pipe portion 4 has the outer inclined surface 8, the flow after passing through the bend pipe portion 4 is guided to the inner side in the bend direction, and thereby it is possible to suppress separation in the inner region. On the other hand, according to findings of the present inventors, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">FIG. 8</figref>, a part of the flow toward the inner side hits the side surface on the inner side, and the part of the flow may flow backward, provoking local separation on the upstream side.</p>
<p id="p0068" num="0068">Thus, in an embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> for instance, the side surface 4B on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe portion 4 may include an inner inclined surface 16 whose distance d2 from the line M decreases toward the downstream side, disposed downstream of the outer inclined surface 8. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the inner inclined surface 16 is formed continuously on the downstream side of the<!-- EPO <DP n="15"> --> inclined surface 10 described above. With the above configuration, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">FIG. 9</figref>, the flow from the bend pipe portion 4 to the outlet pipe portion 6 curves along the inner inclined surface 16, and it is possible to suppress a partial reverse flow and local separation as described above.</p>
<p id="p0069" num="0069">In an embodiment, in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, the maximum value α1 of the inclination angle formed by the outer inclined surface 8 with a line parallel to the line M and the maximum value α2 of the inclination angle formed by the inner inclined surface 16 with a line parallel to the line M may satisfy α1≥α2. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress separation effectively over a broad range on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0070" num="0070">In an embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, the pipe axial center line H of the bend pipe portion 4 includes a front-side eccentric portion Hf offset from the line M toward the front side, on the downstream side of the back-side eccentric portion Hr. Accordingly, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">FIG. 9</figref>, the flow from the bend pipe portion 4 to the outlet pipe portion 6 curves along the inner inclined surface, and it is possible to suppress a partial reverse flow and local separation as described above.</p>
<p id="p0071" num="0071">In an embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, the distance δ1 between the line M and a position P on the back-side eccentric portion Hr farthest from the line M toward the back side and the distance δ2 between the line M and a position Q on the front-side eccentric portion Hf farthest from the line M toward the front side may satisfy δ1≥δ2. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress separation effectively over a broad range on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0072" num="0072"><figref idref="f0009">FIG. 10</figref> is a diagram showing a relationship between a pipe axial directional position 'm' and a flow-passage cross-sectional area A of the bend pipe 100 shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>.</p>
<p id="p0073" num="0073">Also in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0009">FIG. 10</figref>, the flow-passage cross-sectional area in at least one section of the bend pipe portion 4 is greater than each of the flow-passage cross-sectional area A1 of the inlet pipe portion 2 and the flow-passage cross-sectional area A3 of the outlet pipe portion 6. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0009">FIG. 10</figref>, the flow-passage cross-sectional area of the bend pipe portion 4 reaches the local maximum value<!-- EPO <DP n="16"> --> A4 at the pipe axial directional position 'm4' on the downstream side of the pipe axial directional position 'm2' at which the flow-passage cross-sectional area of the bend pipe portion 4 reaches its maximum value A2. With the above configuration, it is possible to suppress separation over a broad range on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100, and reduce pressure loss.</p>
<p id="p0074" num="0074"><figref idref="f0010">FIG. 11</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref> not falling under claim 1. <figref idref="f0010">FIG. 12</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref> not falling under claim 1. <figref idref="f0010">FIG. 13</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>. <figref idref="f0011">FIG. 14</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>. <figref idref="f0011">FIG. 15</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a flow-passage cross-sectional shape of the bend pipe portion 4 shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">FIGs. 2 to 4</figref>.</p>
<p id="p0075" num="0075">In an example, as shown in <figref idref="f0010">FIG. 11</figref>, the flow-passage cross section of the bend pipe portion 4 may have a circular shape.</p>
<p id="p0076" num="0076">In an example, as shown in <figref idref="f0010">FIG. 12</figref>, the bend pipe portion 4 may include a cross section in which the gravity center G is positioned on the inner side, with respect to the bend direction, of the center O of the flow-passage width Wb in the direction J orthogonal to the direction I, at least in a partial section. That is, in the cross section of at least a partial section of the bend pipe portion 4, the flow-passage cross-sectional area A2out on the outer side, with respect to the bend direction, of the center O of the flow-passage width Wb may be smaller than the flow-passage cross-sectional area A2in on the inner side, with respect to the bend direction, of the center O.</p>
<p id="p0077" num="0077">Generally, in the bend pipe portion, the flow is likely to deflect outward with respect to the bend direction, which may cause pressure loss. In view of this, with the bend pipe portion 4 including a cross section in which the gravity center G is positioned on the inner side, with respect to the bend direction, of the center O of the flow-passage width Wb as described above, the fluid is less likely to flow into a region on the outer side, with respect to<!-- EPO <DP n="17"> --> the bend direction, of the center O of the bend pipe portion 4, while the fluid is more likely to flow into a region on the inner side, with respect to the bend direction, of the center O. As a result, separation is reduced, and it is possible to reduce pressure loss in the bend pipe portion 4. Furthermore, the flow amount decreases in the region on the outer side, with respect to the bend direction, where a centrifugal force has a strong influence, and development of the secondary flow (see <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 7</figref>) is suppressed by inclination of the wall surface 18.</p>
<p id="p0078" num="0078">In some embodiments, as shown in <figref idref="f0010">FIGs. 13</figref> to15, the bend pipe portion 4 has a flattened shape in which the flow-passage width Wb in the direction J orthogonal to the direction I is smaller than the flow-passage width Wa in the direction I, at least in a partial section. The flattened shape may be an oval shape as shown in FIG. 13A, or a rectangular shape as shown in <figref idref="f0011">FIG. 14</figref>, or a rectangular with rounded corners as shown in <figref idref="f0011">FIG. 15</figref>. Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the flattened shape is not particularly limited, and may be a polygonal shape such as a diamond shape and a trapezoidal shape, or one of these shapes with rounded corners.</p>
<p id="p0079" num="0079">With the above configuration, the flow-passage width Wb in the direction J is smaller than the flow-passage width Wa in the direction I, and thereby it is possible to reduce the influence of a centrifugal force. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a drift to a region on the outer side with respect to the bend direction, and to suppress occurrence of a secondary flow.</p>
<p id="p0080" num="0080"><figref idref="f0012">FIG. 16</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a bend pipe 100 according to an embodiment, as seen from the direction I. <figref idref="f0013">FIG. 17</figref> is a diagram showing an example of cross sections S1 to S5 of the bend pipe portion 4 at a plurality of positions (pipe axial directional positions) in the flow direction shown in <figref idref="f0012">FIG. 16</figref>, the example not falling under claim 1. <figref idref="f0014">FIG. 18</figref> is a diagram showing an example of cross sections S1 to S5 of the bend pipe portion 4 at a plurality of positions (pipe axial directional positions) in the flow direction shown in <figref idref="f0012">FIG. 16</figref>, the example not falling under claim 1. In <figref idref="f0013">FIGs. 17</figref> and <figref idref="f0014">18</figref>, the cross sections S1 to S5 are cross sections as seen from the downstream side in the flow direction.</p>
<p id="p0081" num="0081">In an example, as shown in <figref idref="f0013">FIG. 17</figref>, the vertex position V at which the flow-passage<!-- EPO <DP n="18"> --> width reaches its maximum in each of the cross sections S1 to S5 of the bend pipe portion 4 may be constant regardless of the position in the flow direction. Accordingly, it is possible to form the above described outer inclined surface 8 with a simple shape.</p>
<p id="p0082" num="0082">Meanwhile, in a case where a flow that flows from the inlet pipe portion 2 originally has a rotation component, as shown in <figref idref="f0015">FIGs. 19A to 19C</figref>, the separation flow K generated on the inner side in the bend direction of the bend pipe 100 follows a twisted trajectory along the rotational direction C of the flow.</p>
<p id="p0083" num="0083">In this case, as shown in <figref idref="f0014">FIG. 18</figref>, at least in a partial section of the bend pipe portion 4, the vertex position V at which the flow-passage width in each cross section of the bend pipe portion 4 reaches its maximum may shift along the rotational direction C of the flow about the axis toward the downstream side. Accordingly, even in a case where a flow that flows from the inlet pipe portion 2 originally has a rotation component, it is possible to suppress occurrence of separation effectively in a region on the inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0084" num="0084">Furthermore, as shown in <figref idref="f0016">FIG. 20</figref>, the bend pipe 100 described above may be applied to an inlet pipe 22 (intake chamber) of a turbine 20 as a fluid machine. That is, as shown in <figref idref="f0016">FIG. 20</figref>, in the turbine 20 including an impeller wheel 24, a turbine casing 26 covering the impeller wheel 24, and an inlet pipe 22 connected to the upstream side of the turbine casing 26 for guiding a fluid to the impeller wheel 24, the inlet pipe 22 may be the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0085" num="0085">Furthermore, as shown in <figref idref="f0016">FIG. 21</figref>, the bend pipe 100 described above may be applied to an outlet pipe 28 (exhaust chamber) of a turbine 20 as a fluid machine. That is, as shown in <figref idref="f0016">FIG. 21</figref>, in the turbine 20 including an impeller wheel 24, a turbine casing 26 covering the impeller wheel 24, and an outlet pipe 28 connected to the downstream side of the turbine casing 26 for discharging a fluid after passing through the impeller wheel 24, the outlet pipe 28 may be the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0086" num="0086">Furthermore, as shown in <figref idref="f0017">FIG. 22</figref>, the bend pipe 100 described above may be applied to an inlet pipe 32 (intake chamber) of an axial flow compressor 30 serving as a fluid<!-- EPO <DP n="19"> --> machine. That is, as shown in <figref idref="f0017">FIG. 22</figref>, in the axial flow compressor 30 including an impeller wheel 34, a compressor casing 36 covering the impeller wheel 34, and an inlet pipe 32 connected to the upstream side of the compressor casing 36 for guiding a fluid to the impeller wheel 34, the inlet pipe 32 may be the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0087" num="0087">Furthermore, as shown in <figref idref="f0017">FIG. 23</figref>, the bend pipe 100 described above may be applied to an outlet pipe 38 (exhaust chamber) of an axial flow compressor 30 serving as a fluid machine. That is, as shown in <figref idref="f0017">FIG. 23</figref>, in the axial flow compressor 30 including an impeller wheel 34, a compressor casing 36 covering the impeller wheel 34, and an outlet pipe 38 connected to the downstream side of the compressor casing 36 for discharging a fluid after passing through the impeller wheel 34, the outlet pipe 38 may be the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0088" num="0088">Furthermore, as shown in <figref idref="f0018">FIG. 24</figref>, the bend pipe 100 described above may be applied to an inlet pipe 42 of a centrifugal compressor 40 serving as a fluid machine. That is, as shown in <figref idref="f0018">FIG. 24</figref>, in the centrifugal compressor 40 including an impeller wheel 44, a compressor casing 46 covering the impeller wheel 44, and an inlet pipe 42 connected to the upstream side of the compressor casing 46 for guiding a fluid to the impeller wheel 44, the inlet pipe 42 may be the bend pipe 100.</p>
<p id="p0089" num="0089">Furthermore, as shown in <figref idref="f0018">FIG. 25</figref>, the bend pipe 100 described above may be applied to an outlet pipe 48 (discharge scroll) of a centrifugal compressor 40 serving as a fluid machine. That is, as shown in <figref idref="f0018">FIG. 25</figref>, in the centrifugal compressor 40 including an impeller wheel 44, a compressor casing 46 (see <figref idref="f0018">FIG. 24</figref>) covering the impeller wheel 44, and an outlet pipe 48 connected to the downstream side of the compressor casing 46 for discharging a fluid after passing through the impeller wheel 44, the outlet pipe 48 may be the bend pipe 100.</p>
<heading id="h0011">Description of Reference Numerals</heading><!-- EPO <DP n="20"> -->
<p id="p0090" num="0090">
<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact">
<dt>2</dt><dd>Inlet pipe portion</dd>
<dt>2a</dt><dd>Downstream end</dd>
<dt>4</dt><dd>Bend pipe portion</dd>
<dt>4A</dt><dd>Side surface</dd>
<dt>4B</dt><dd>Side surface</dd>
<dt>4a</dt><dd>Downstream end</dd>
<dt>6</dt><dd>Outlet pipe portion</dd>
<dt>8</dt><dd>Outer inclined surface</dd>
<dt>10</dt><dd>Inclined surface</dd>
<dt>12</dt><dd>Inclined surface</dd>
<dt>14</dt><dd>Non-inclined surface</dd>
<dt>16</dt><dd>Inner inclined surface</dd>
<dt>18</dt><dd>Wall surface</dd>
<dt>20</dt><dd>Turbine</dd>
<dt>22</dt><dd>Inlet pipe</dd>
<dt>24</dt><dd>Impeller wheel</dd>
<dt>26</dt><dd>Turbine casing</dd>
<dt>28</dt><dd>Outlet pipe</dd>
<dt>30</dt><dd>Axial flow compressor</dd>
<dt>32</dt><dd>Inlet pipe</dd>
<dt>34</dt><dd>Impeller wheel</dd>
<dt>36</dt><dd>Compressor casing</dd>
<dt>38</dt><dd>Outlet pipe</dd>
<dt>40</dt><dd>Centrifugal compressor</dd>
<dt>42</dt><dd>Inlet pipe</dd>
<dt>44</dt><dd>Impeller wheel</dd>
<dt>46</dt><dd>Compressor casing<!-- EPO <DP n="21"> --></dd>
<dt>48</dt><dd>Outlet pipe</dd>
<dt>100</dt><dd>Bend pipe</dd>
<dt>A</dt><dd>Flow-passage cross sectional area</dd>
<dt>A1</dt><dd>Flow-passage cross sectional area</dd>
<dt>A2</dt><dd>Maximum value</dd>
<dt>A3</dt><dd>Flow-passage cross sectional area</dd>
<dt>A2in</dt><dd>Flow-passage cross sectional area</dd>
<dt>A2out</dt><dd>Flow-passage cross sectional area</dd>
<dt>A4</dt><dd>Local maximum value</dd>
<dt>C</dt><dd>Rotational direction</dd>
<dt>De</dt><dd>Diameter</dd>
<dt>E</dt><dd>Direction</dd>
<dt>G</dt><dd>Gravity center</dd>
<dt>H</dt><dd>Pipe axial center line</dd>
<dt>Hf</dt><dd>Front-side eccentric portion</dd>
<dt>Hr</dt><dd>Back-side eccentric portion</dd>
<dt>I</dt><dd>Direction</dd>
<dt>J</dt><dd>Direction</dd>
<dt>K</dt><dd>Separation flow</dd>
<dt>L</dt><dd>Line</dd>
<dt>M</dt><dd>Line</dd>
<dt>N</dt><dd>Intersection line</dd>
<dt>O</dt><dd>Center</dd>
<dt>V</dt><dd>Vertex position</dd>
<dt>Wa</dt><dd>Flow-passage width</dd>
<dt>Wb</dt><dd>Flow-passage width</dd>
<dt>d1</dt><dd>Distance</dd>
<dt>d2</dt><dd>Distance<!-- EPO <DP n="22"> --></dd>
<dt>m</dt><dd>Pipe axial directional position</dd>
<dt>m2</dt><dd>Pipe axial directional position</dd>
<dt>m4</dt><dd>Pipe axial directional position</dd>
</dl></p>
</description>
<claims id="claims01" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="23"> -->
<claim id="c-en-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>A bend pipe (100) for supplying a fluid to a fluid machine or discharging the fluid from the fluid machine, the bend pipe comprising:
<claim-text>an inlet pipe portion (2) having a linear shape;</claim-text>
<claim-text>a bend pipe portion (4) connected to a downstream end of the inlet pipe portion (2) and configured to change a flow direction of the fluid; and</claim-text>
<claim-text>an outlet pipe portion (6) having a linear shape connected to a downstream end of the bend pipe portion (4),</claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein, provided that: a line including a pipe axial center line of the inlet pipe portion (2) and an extension line thereof is defined as a line L; a line including a pipe axial line of the outlet pipe portion (6) and an extension line thereof is defined as a line M; and a direction parallel to an intersection line formed by a plane orthogonal to the line L and a plane orthogonal to the line M is defined as a direction I,</claim-text>
<claim-text>when, as seen from the direction I, a side of the line M on which the inlet pipe portion (2) exists is defined as a front side and a side of the line M on which the inlet pipe portion (2) does not exist is defined as a back side,</claim-text>
<claim-text>a side surface on an outer side with respect to a bend direction of the bend pipe portion (4) includes an outer inclined surface (8) on the back side of the line M, the outer inclined surface (8) being inclined so that a distance from the line M decreases toward a downstream side,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein a pipe axial center line of the bend pipe portion (4) has a back-side eccentric portion offset from the line M toward the back side, and<br/>
<b>characterized in that</b></claim-text>
<claim-text>the bend pipe portion (4) has, at least in a partial section, a flattened shape in which a flow passage width in a direction J orthogonal to the direction I is smaller than a flow passage width in the direction I.</claim-text><!-- EPO <DP n="24"> --></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to claim 1,<br/>
wherein the flattened shape is an oval shape, a rectangular shape, or a rectangular shape with four rounded corners.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0003" num="0003">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to claim 1 or 2,<br/>
wherein a side surface on an inner side with respect to the bend direction of the bend pipe portion (4) includes an inner inclined surface (16) on a downstream side of the outer inclined surface (8), the inner inclined surface (16) being inclined so that a distance from the line M decreases toward a downstream side.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0004" num="0004">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to claim 3,<br/>
wherein, as seen from the direction I, a maximum value α1 of an inclination angle formed by the outer inclined surface (8) with a line parallel to the line M and a maximum value α2 of an inclination angle formed by the inner inclined surface (16) with a line parallel to the line M satisfy α1≥ α2.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0005" num="0005">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to claim 3 or 4,<br/>
wherein a pipe axial center line of the bend pipe portion (6) has a back-side eccentric portion (Hr) offset from the line M toward the back side and a front-side eccentric portion (Hr) offset from the line M toward the front side on a downstream side of the back-side eccentric portion (Hr).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0006" num="0006">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to claim 5,<br/>
wherein a distance δ1 between the line M and a portion of the back-side eccentric portion (Hr) farthest from the line M toward the back side and a distance δ2 between the line M and a portion of the front-side eccentric portion (Hr) farthest from the line M toward the front side satisfy δ1≥δ2.<!-- EPO <DP n="25"> --></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0007" num="0007">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 6,<br/>
wherein, as seen from the direction I, a maximum value α1 of an inclination angle formed by the outer inclined surface (8) with a line parallel to the line M is not smaller than 10°.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0008" num="0008">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 7,<br/>
wherein a diameter De of the outlet pipe portion and a distance δ1 between the line M and a portion of the back-side eccentric portion (Hr) farthest from the line M toward the back side satisfy δ1≥0.1De.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0009" num="0009">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 8,<br/>
wherein a flow-passage cross sectional area at least in a partial section of the bend pipe portion (4) is greater than a flow-passage cross sectional area Al of the inlet pipe portion (2), and is greater than a flow-passage cross sectional area A3 of the outlet pipe portion (6).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0010" num="0010">
<claim-text>The bend pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 9,<br/>
wherein, at least in a partial section of the bend pipe portion, a vertex position (V) at which a flow passage width of each cross section of the bend pipe portion (4) is at a maximum is shifted about a pipe axial center line of the bend pipe portion (4) toward a downstream side.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0011" num="0011">
<claim-text>A fluid machine, comprising:
<claim-text>an impeller wheel (34);</claim-text>
<claim-text>a casing (46) covering the impeller wheel (34);</claim-text>
<claim-text>an inlet pipe (42) connected to an upstream side of the casing (46), for guiding a fluid to the impeller wheel (34); and<!-- EPO <DP n="26"> --></claim-text>
<claim-text>an outlet pipe (48) connected to a downstream side of the casing (46), for discharging a fluid after passing through the impeller wheel (34),</claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein the inlet pipe (42) or the outlet pipe (48) comprises the bend pipe (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0012" num="0012">
<claim-text>The fluid machine according to claim 11, comprising a turbine (20), an axial flow compressor (30), or a centrifugal compressor (40).</claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<claims id="claims02" lang="de"><!-- EPO <DP n="27"> -->
<claim id="c-de-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen (100) zum Zuführen eines Fluids zu einer Strömungsmaschine oder Ausladen des Fluids aus der Strömungsmaschine, wobei der Rohrbogen umfasst:
<claim-text>einen Einlassrohrabschnitt (2), der eine lineare Form aufweist;</claim-text>
<claim-text>einen Rohrbogenabschnitt (4), der mit einem stromabwärtigen Ende des Einlassrohrabschnitts (2) verbunden und dazu konfiguriert ist, eine Flussrichtung des Fluids zu ändern; und</claim-text>
<claim-text>einen Auslassrohrabschnitt (6), der eine lineare Form aufweist, der mit einem stromabwärtigen Ende des Rohrbogenabschnitts (4) verbunden ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei, vorausgesetzt, dass: eine Linie, die eine axiale Rohrmittenlinie des Einlassrohrabschnitts (2) beinhaltet und eine Erweiterungslinie davon als eine Linie L definiert ist; eine Linie, die eine axiale Rohrlinie des Auslassrohrabschnitts (6) beinhaltet und eine Erweiterungslinie davon als eine Linie M definiert ist; und eine Richtung parallel zu einer Schnittlinie, die von einer Ebene orthogonal zu der Linie L und einer Ebene orthogonal zu der Linie M gebildet ist, als eine Richtung I definiert ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wenn, wie aus der Richtung I betrachtet, eine Seite der Linie M, auf der der Einlassrohrabschnitt (2) vorhanden ist, als eine Vorderseite definiert ist, und eine Seite der Linie M, auf der der Einlassrohrabschnitt (2) nicht vorhanden ist, als eine Rückseite definiert ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>eine Seitenoberfläche auf einer Außenseite bezüglich einer Biegerichtung des Rohrbogenabschnitts (4) eine äußere geneigte Oberfläche (8) auf der Rückseite der Linie M beinhaltet, wobei die äußere geneigte Oberfläche (8) derart geneigt ist, dass ein Abstand von der Linie M zu einer stromabwärtigen Seite abnimmt,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei eine axiale Rohrmittenlinie des Rohrbogenabschnitts (4) einen exzentrischen Rückseitenabschnitt aufweist, der von der Linie M zu der Rückseite versetzt ist, und <b>dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass</b></claim-text>
<claim-text>der Rohrbogenabschnitt (4) mindestens in einem teilweisen Teilabschnitt eine abgeflachte Form aufweist, in der eine Flusspassagenbreite in einer Richtung J orthogonal zu der Richtung I kleiner ist als eine Flusspassagenbreite in der Richtung I.</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach Anspruch 1,<br/>
<!-- EPO <DP n="28"> -->wobei die abgeflachte Form eine ovale Form, eine rechteckige Form oder eine rechteckige Form mit 4 gerundeten Ecken ist.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0003" num="0003">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,<br/>
wobei eine Seitenoberfläche auf einer Innenseite bezüglich der Biegerichtung des Rohrbogenabschnitts (4) eine innere geneigte Oberfläche (16) auf einer stromabwärtigen Seite der äußeren geneigten Oberfläche (8) beinhaltet, wobei die innere geneigte Oberfläche (16) derart geneigt ist, dass ein Abstand von der Linie M zu einer stromabwärtigen Seite abnimmt.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0004" num="0004">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach Anspruch 3,<br/>
wobei, wie aus der Richtung I betrachtet, ein Höchstwert α1 eines Neigungswinkels, der von der äußeren geneigten Oberfläche (8) mit einer Linie parallel zu der Linie M gebildet wird, und ein Höchstwert α2 eines Neigungswinkels, der von der inneren geneigten Oberfläche (16) mit einer Linie parallel zu der Linie M gebildet wird, α1 ≥ α2 erfüllen.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0005" num="0005">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach Anspruch 3 oder 4,<br/>
wobei eine axiale Rohrmittenlinie des Rohrbogenabschnitts (6) einen exzentrischen Rückseitenabschnitt (Hr) aufweist, der von der Linie M zu der Rückseite versetzt ist, und einen exzentrischen Vorderseitenabschnitt (Hr), der von der Linie M zu der Vorderseite auf einer stromabwärtigen Seite des exzentrischen Rückseitenabschnitts (Hr) versetzt ist.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0006" num="0006">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach Anspruch 5,<br/>
wobei ein Abstand δ1 zwischen der Linie M und einem Abschnitt des exzentrischen Rückseitenabschnitts (Hr) am weitesten von der Linie M zu der Rückseite entfernt, und ein Abstand δ2 zwischen der Linie M und einem Abschnitt des exzentrischen Vorderseitenabschnitts (Hr) am weitesten von der Linie M zu der Vorderseite entfernt δ1 ≥ δ2 erfüllen.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0007" num="0007">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6,<br/>
<!-- EPO <DP n="29"> -->wobei, wie aus der Richtung I betrachtet, ein Höchstwert α1 eines Neigungswinkels, der von der äußeren geneigten Oberfläche (8) mit einer Linie parallel zu der Linie M gebildet wird, nicht kleiner ist als 10°.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0008" num="0008">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7,<br/>
wobei ein Durchmesser De des Auslassrohrabschnitts und ein Abstand δ1 zwischen der Linie M und einem Abschnitt des exzentrischen Rückseitenabschnitts (Hr) am weitesten von der Linie M zu der Rückseite entfernt δ1 ≥ 0,1De erfüllen.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0009" num="0009">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8,<br/>
wobei eine Flusspassagen-Querschnittfläche mindestens in einem teilweisen Teilabschnitt des Rohrbogenabschnitts (4) größer ist als eine Flusspassagen-Querschnittfläche A1 des Einlassrohrabschnitts (2), und größer ist als eine Flusspassage-Querschnittfläche A3 des Auslassrohrabschnitts (6).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0010" num="0010">
<claim-text>Rohrbogen nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9,<br/>
wobei mindestens in einem teilweisen Teilabschnitt des Rohrbogenabschnitts eine Vertexposition (V), an der eine Flusspassagenbreite jedes Querschnitts des Rohrbogenabschnitts (4) an einem Maximum ist, um eine axiale Rohrmittenlinie des Rohrbogenabschnitts (4) zu einer stromabwärtigen Seite verschoben ist.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0011" num="0011">
<claim-text>Strömungsmaschine, die umfasst:
<claim-text>ein Flügelrad (34);</claim-text>
<claim-text>ein Gehäuse (46), dass das Flügelrad (34) abdeckt;</claim-text>
<claim-text>ein Einlassrohr (42), das mit einer stromaufwärtigen Seite des Gehäuses (46) zum Führen eines Fluids zu dem Flügelrad (34) verbunden ist; und</claim-text>
<claim-text>ein Auslassrohr (48), das mit einer stromabwärtigen Seite des Gehäuses (46) zum Ausladen eines Fluids nach dem Durchgehen durch das Flügelrad (34) verbunden ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei das Einlassrohr (42) oder das Auslassrohr (48) den Rohrbogen (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10 umfasst.</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0012" num="0012">
<claim-text>Strömungsmaschine nach Anspruch 11, die eine Turbine (20), einen Axialverdichter (30) oder einen radialen Turboverdichter (40) umfasst.</claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<claims id="claims03" lang="fr"><!-- EPO <DP n="30"> -->
<claim id="c-fr-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé (100) pour fournir un fluide à une machine de fluide ou évacuer le fluide de la machine de fluide, le tuyau incurvé comprenant :
<claim-text>une portion de tuyau d'entrée (2) présentant une forme linéaire ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>une portion de tuyau incurvé (4) reliée à une extrémité en aval de la portion de tuyau d'entrée (2) et configurée pour changer une direction de flux du fluide ; et</claim-text>
<claim-text>une portion de tuyau de sortie (6) présentant une forme linéaire reliée à une extrémité en aval de la portion de tuyau incurvé (4),</claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel, à condition que : une ligne incluant une ligne centrale axiale de tuyau de la portion de tuyau d'entrée (2) et une ligne d'extension de celui-ci est définie comme une ligne L ; une ligne incluant une ligne axiale de tuyau de la portion de tuyau de sortie (6) et une ligne d'extension de celui-ci est définie comme une ligne M ; et une direction parallèle à une ligne d'intersection formée par un plan orthogonal à la ligne L et un plan orthogonal à la ligne M est définie comme une direction I,</claim-text>
<claim-text>lorsque, vu depuis la direction I, un côté de la ligne M, sur lequel la portion de tuyau d'entrée (2) existe, est défini comme un côté avant et un côté de la ligne M, sur lequel la portion de tuyau d'entrée (2) n'existe pas, est défini comme un côté arrière,</claim-text>
<claim-text>une surface latérale sur un côté extérieur par rapport à une direction incurvée de la portion de tuyau incurvé (4) inclut une surface inclinée extérieure (8) sur le côté arrière de la ligne M, la surface inclinée extérieure (8) étant inclinée de sorte qu'une distance de la ligne M diminue vers un côté en aval,</claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel une ligne centrale axiale de tuyau de la portion de tuyau incurvé (4) présente une portion excentrique côté arrière décalée de la ligne M vers le côté arrière, et <b>caractérisé en ce que</b></claim-text>
<claim-text>la portion de tuyau incurvé (4) présente, au moins dans une section partielle, une forme aplatie dans laquelle une largeur de passage de flux dans une direction J orthogonale à la direction I est inférieure à une largeur de passage de flux dans la direction I.</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon la revendication 1,<br/>
dans lequel la forme aplatie est une forme ovale, une forme rectangulaire, ou une forme rectangulaire avec quatre coins arrondis.<!-- EPO <DP n="31"> --></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0003" num="0003">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon la revendication 1 ou 2,<br/>
dans lequel une surface latérale sur un côté intérieur par rapport à la direction incurvée de la portion de tuyau incurvé (4) inclut une surface inclinée intérieure (16) sur un côté en aval de la surface inclinée extérieure (8), la surface inclinée intérieure (16) étant inclinée de sorte qu'une distance de la ligne M diminue vers un côté en aval.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0004" num="0004">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon la revendication 3,<br/>
dans lequel, vu depuis la direction I, une valeur maximum al d'un angle d'inclinaison formé par la surface inclinée extérieure (8) avec une ligne parallèle à la ligne M et une valeur maximum α2 d'un angle d'inclinaison formé par la surface inclinée intérieure (16) avec une ligne parallèle à la ligne M satisfont à α1≥α2.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0005" num="0005">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon la revendication 3 ou 4,<br/>
dans lequel une ligne centrale axiale de tuyau de la portion de tuyau incurvé (6) présente une portion excentrique côté arrière (Hr) décalée de la ligne M vers le côté arrière et une portion excentrique côté avant (Hr) décalée de la ligne M vers le côté avant sur un côté en aval de la portion excentrique côté arrière (Hr).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0006" num="0006">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon la revendication 5,<br/>
dans lequel une distance δ1 entre la ligne M et une portion de la portion excentrique côté arrière (Hr) le plus loin de la ligne M vers le côté arrière et une distance δ2 entre la ligne M et une portion de la portion excentrique côté avant (Hr) le plus loin de la ligne M vers le côté avant satisfont à δ1≥ δ2.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0007" num="0007">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6,<br/>
dans lequel, vu depuis la direction I, une valeur maximum al d'un angle d'inclinaison formé par la surface inclinée extérieure (8) avec une ligne parallèle à la ligne M n'est pas inférieure à 10°.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0008" num="0008">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7,<br/>
<!-- EPO <DP n="32"> -->dans lequel un diamètre De de la portion de tuyau de sortie et une distance δ1 entre la ligne M et une portion de la portion excentrique côté arrière (Hr) le plus loin de la ligne M vers le côté arrière satisfont à δ1≥0,1De.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0009" num="0009">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8,<br/>
dans lequel une superficie de section de passage de flux au moins dans une section partielle de la portion de tuyau incurvé (4) est supérieure à une superficie de section de passage de flux Al de la portion de tuyau d'entrée (2), et est supérieure à une superficie de section de passage de flux A3 de la portion de tuyau de sortie (6).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0010" num="0010">
<claim-text>Tuyau incurvé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9,<br/>
dans lequel, au moins dans une section partielle de la portion de tuyau incurvé, une position de sommet (V) dans laquelle une largeur de passage de flux de chaque section transversale de la portion de tuyau incurvé (4) est à un maximum, est déplacée autour d'une ligne centrale axiale de tuyau de la portion de tuyau incurvé (4) vers un côté en aval.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0011" num="0011">
<claim-text>Machine de fluide, comprenant :
<claim-text>une roue à aubes (34) ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>un boîtier (46) couvrant la roue à aubes (34) ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>un tuyau d'entrée (42) relié à un côté en amont du boîtier (46), pour le guidage d'un fluide à la roue à aubes (34) ; et</claim-text>
<claim-text>un tuyau de sortie (48) relié à un côté en aval du boîtier (46), pour l'évacuation d'un fluide après le passage à travers la roue à aubes (34),</claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel le tuyau d'entrée (42) ou le tuyau de sortie (48) comprend le tuyau incurvé (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10.</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0012" num="0012">
<claim-text>Machine de fluide selon la revendication 11, comprenant une turbine (20), un compresseur de flux axial (30), ou un compresseur centrifuge (40).</claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<drawings id="draw" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="33"> -->
<figure id="f0001" num="1"><img id="if0001" file="imgf0001.tif" wi="156" he="125" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="34"> -->
<figure id="f0002" num="2"><img id="if0002" file="imgf0002.tif" wi="165" he="166" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="35"> -->
<figure id="f0003" num="3"><img id="if0003" file="imgf0003.tif" wi="165" he="166" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="36"> -->
<figure id="f0004" num="4"><img id="if0004" file="imgf0004.tif" wi="165" he="163" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="37"> -->
<figure id="f0005" num="5"><img id="if0005" file="imgf0005.tif" wi="165" he="177" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="38"> -->
<figure id="f0006" num="6"><img id="if0006" file="imgf0006.tif" wi="153" he="124" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="39"> -->
<figure id="f0007" num="7"><img id="if0007" file="imgf0007.tif" wi="141" he="109" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="40"> -->
<figure id="f0008" num="8,9"><img id="if0008" file="imgf0008.tif" wi="128" he="132" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="41"> -->
<figure id="f0009" num="10"><img id="if0009" file="imgf0009.tif" wi="151" he="122" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="42"> -->
<figure id="f0010" num="11,12,13"><img id="if0010" file="imgf0010.tif" wi="162" he="211" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="43"> -->
<figure id="f0011" num="14,15"><img id="if0011" file="imgf0011.tif" wi="155" he="131" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="44"> -->
<figure id="f0012" num="16"><img id="if0012" file="imgf0012.tif" wi="138" he="136" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="45"> -->
<figure id="f0013" num="17"><img id="if0013" file="imgf0013.tif" wi="158" he="198" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="46"> -->
<figure id="f0014" num="18"><img id="if0014" file="imgf0014.tif" wi="158" he="182" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="47"> -->
<figure id="f0015" num="19A,19B,19C"><img id="if0015" file="imgf0015.tif" wi="130" he="222" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="48"> -->
<figure id="f0016" num="20,21"><img id="if0016" file="imgf0016.tif" wi="138" he="182" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="49"> -->
<figure id="f0017" num="22,23"><img id="if0017" file="imgf0017.tif" wi="138" he="180" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="50"> -->
<figure id="f0018" num="24,25"><img id="if0018" file="imgf0018.tif" wi="142" he="211" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="51"> -->
<figure id="f0019" num="26"><img id="if0019" file="imgf0019.tif" wi="141" he="141" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="52"> -->
<figure id="f0020" num="27A,27B"><img id="if0020" file="imgf0020.tif" wi="159" he="209" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure>
</drawings>
<ep-reference-list id="ref-list">
<heading id="ref-h0001"><b>REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION</b></heading>
<p id="ref-p0001" num=""><i>This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.</i></p>
<heading id="ref-h0002"><b>Patent documents cited in the description</b></heading>
<p id="ref-p0002" num="">
<ul id="ref-ul0001" list-style="bullet">
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0001" dnum="JP2006307740A"><document-id><country>JP</country><doc-number>2006307740</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0001">[0005]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0002" dnum="US2837810A"><document-id><country>US</country><doc-number>2837810</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0002">[0006]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0003" dnum="WO9815769A1"><document-id><country>WO</country><doc-number>9815769</doc-number><kind>A1</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0003">[0006]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0004" dnum="WO0017562A1"><document-id><country>WO</country><doc-number>0017562</doc-number><kind>A1</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0004">[0006]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0005" dnum="WO2009127192A1"><document-id><country>WO</country><doc-number>2009127192</doc-number><kind>A1</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0005">[0007]</crossref></li>
</ul></p>
</ep-reference-list>
</ep-patent-document>
